Use of a combination of surfactants, chelating agents and essential oils for effective disinfection

ABSTRACT

PCT No. PCT/US96/11763 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 15, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 15, 1999 PCT Filed Jul. 16, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO98/02044 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 22, 1998The present invention relates to the use, in a composition, of a combination of a chelating agent, a surfactant, and an essential oil or an active thereof, to provide disinfecting properties to said composition.

This application is filed pursuant to 35 USC 371 based uponPCT/US96/11763 filed Jul. 16, 1996.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to antimicrobial compositions which can beused to disinfect and clean various surfaces including hard surfaces orin laundry applications.

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial compositions include materials which have the ability todisinfect. It is generally recognised that a disinfecting materialgreatly reduces or even eliminates the microorganisms existing on asurface. Antimicrobial compositions have been described in the art whichinclude strong disinfecting materials which are not fully satisfactoryfrom an environmental and/or human safety point of view. For example,typical disinfecting materials used in antimicrobial compositionsinclude quaternary ammonium.

Also, a drawback associated with antimicrobial compositions based onstrong disinfecting materials like peracids and/or halogen-releasingcompounds, e.g., hypochlorite, is that they may damage surfaces ontowhich they are contacted to perform their disinfecting action. Indeed,such antimicrobial compositions based on peracids and/or hypochloriteare perceived by the consumers as being not safe to various surfacesincluding hard-surfaces and fabrics, especially delicate fabrics likesilk, wool and the like.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide effectivedisinfection using ingredients which are perceived to have a limiteddetrimental impact on surfaces and/or to be environmental friendly.

This object can be met by combining in a composition a surfactant, achelating agent and an antimicrobial essential oil, or an activethereof. Indeed, it has been found that the incorporation, in acomposition, of the combination of a surfactant, a chelating agent andan antimicrobial essential oil, or an active thereof, providesdisinfecting properties to said composition. Actually, a compositioncomprising said combination provides excellent disinfection on asurface, even at high dilution levels, i.e., up to dilution levels offrom 1:100 (composition:water).

By combining a chelating agent, a surfactant and an essential oil or anactive thereof, disinfection may be provided on all types of surfacesincluding hard-surfaces as well as in laundry applications, or even inhuman application.

An advantage of the present invention is that excellent disinfection isprovided on a broad range of bacterial pure strains including Grampositive and Gram negative bacterial strains and more resistantmicro-organisms like fungi.

Another advantage of the present invention is that beside thedisinfection properties delivered, good cleaning is also provided.

Representative of the prior art is for example EP-B-288 689 whichdiscloses a liquid for hard-surfaces comprising antimicrobial effectiveamounts of pine oil and at least one oil soluble organic acid.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,587 discloses aqueous antimicrobial compositionswhich can be used to sanitise, disinfect, and clean hard-surfaces. Moreparticularly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,587 discloses aqueous compositions (pH1 to 12) comprising essential oils (0.02% to 5%), which exhibitantimicrobial properties efficacy such as thyme oil, eucalyptus oil,clove oil and the like, and a solubilizing or dispersing agentsufficient to form an aqueous solution or dispersion of said essentialoils in a water carrier.

Co-pending European patent application number 96870017.9 disclosesdisinfecting compositions comprising hydrogen peroxide, an antimicrobialessential oil, optionally surfactants and chelating agents.

None of these prior art documents discloses that by combining achelating agent, a surfactant and an antimicrobial essential oil or anactive thereof excellent disinfecting properties are delivered to asurface, even under diluted conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses the use, in a composition, of acombination of a chelating agent, a surfactant and an antimicrobialessential oil or an active thereof, to provide disinfecting propertiesto said composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first essential ingredient of the present invention is a chelatingagent, or a mixture thereof. Suitable chelating agents to be used hereinmay be any chelating agent known to those skilled in the art such as theones selected from the group comprising phosphonate chelating agents,amino carboxylate chelating agents or other carboxylate chelatingagents, or polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents ormixtures thereof. It has now been found that a chelating agent incombination with a surfactant when added on top of an antimicrobialessential oil and/or an active thereof, in a composition, improves thedisinfecting properties of said composition.

Such phosphonate chelating agents may include etidronic acid(1-hydroxyethylidene-bisphosphonic acid or HEDP) as well as aminophosphonate compounds, including amino alkylene poly (alkylenephosphonate), alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy diphosphonates, nitrilotrimethylene phosphonates, ethylene diamine tetra methylenephosphonates, and diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates. Thephosphonate compounds may be present either in their acid form or assalts of different cations on some or all of their acid functionalities.Preferred phosphonate chelating agents to be used herein are diethylenetriamine penta methylene phosphonates. Such phosphonate chelating agentsare commercially available from Monsanto under the trade name DEQUEST®.

Polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents may also beuseful in the compositions herein. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,044, issuedMay 21, 1974, to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acidform are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.

A preferred biodegradable chelating agent for use herein is ethylenediamine N,N'-disuccinic acid, or alkali metal, or alkaline earth,ammonium or substitutes ammonium salts thereof or mixtures thereof.Ethylenediamine N,N'-disuccinic acids, especially the (S,S) isomer havebeen extensively described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,233, Nov. 3, 1987 toHartman and Perkins. Ethylenediamine N,N'-disuccinic acid is, forinstance, commercially available under the tradename ssEDDS® from PalmerResearch Laboratories.

Suitable amino carboxylate chelating agents useful herein includeethylene diamine tetra acetate, diethylene triamine pentaacetate,diethylene triamine pentacetate (DTPA), N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate, nitrilotri-acetate, ethylenediamine tetraproprionate,triethylenetetraaminehexa-acetate, ethanoldiglycine, propylene diaminetetracetic acid (PDTA) and methyl glycine di-acetic acid (MGDA), both intheir acid form, or in their alkali metal, ammonium, and substitutedammonium salt forms. Particularly suitable to be used herein arediethylene triamine penta acetic acid (DTPA), propylene diaminetetracetic acid (PDTA) which is, for instance, commercially availablefrom BASF under the trade name Trilon FS® and methyl glycine di-aceticacid (MGDA).

Further carboxylate chelating agents to be used herein include malonicacid, salicylic acid, glycine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, dipicolinicacid and derivatives thereof, or mixtures thereof.

Typically, the chelating agent, or a mixture thereof, is present in thecomposition at a level of from 0.001% to 5% by weight, preferably from0.002% to 3% by weight and more preferably from 0.002% to 1.5%.

A second essential ingredient of the present invention is a surfactantor a mixture thereof.

Suitable surfactants to be used herein may be any surfactant known tothose skilled in the art including anionic, nonionic, cationic,amphoteric and/or, zwitterionic surfactants. Said surfactants aredesirable as in combination with a chelating agent and an essential oilor an active thereof they provide improved disinfecting performance onthe surfaces treated therewith. Also surfactants contribute to thecleaning performance of a composition comprising said combination.

Particularly suitable anionic surfactants to be used herein includewater soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO₃ M wherein R ispreferably a C₆ -C₂₄ hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkylhaving a C₁₀ -C₂₀ alkyl component, more preferably a C₁₂ -C₁₈ alkyl orhydroxyalkyl, and M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation(e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium(e.g., methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyl ammonium cations and quaternaryammonium cations, such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperdiniumcations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such asethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and thelike).

Other suitable anionic surfactants to be used herein includealkyl-diphenyl-ether-sulphonates and alkyl-carboxylates. Other anionicsurfactants can include salts (including, for example, sodium,potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di-and triethanolamine salts) of soap, C₉ -C₂₀ linearalkylbenzenesulfonates, C₈ -C₂₂ primary or secondary alkanesulfonates,C₈ -C₂₄ olefinsulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared bysulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates,e.g., as described in British patent specification No. 1,082,179, C₈-C₂₄ alkylpolyglycolethersulfates (containing up to 10 moles of ethyleneoxide); alkyl ester sulfonates such as C₁₄₋₁₆ methyl ester sulfonates;acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenolethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates,isethionates such as the acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, alkylsuccinamates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate(especially saturated and unsaturated C₁₂ -C₁₈ monoesters) diesters ofsulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C₆ -C₁₄ diesters),acyl sarcosinates, sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfatesof alkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulfated compounds beingdescribed below), branched primary alkyl sulfates, alkyl polyethoxycarboxylates such as those of the formula RO(CH₂ CH₂ O)_(k) CH₂ COO--M⁺wherein R is a C₈ -C₂₂ alkyl, k is an integer from 0 to 10, and M is asoluble salt-forming cation. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acidsare also suitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acidsand hydrogenated resin acids present in or derived from tall oil.Further examples are given in "Surface Active Agents and Detergents"(Vol. I and II by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of suchsurfactants are also generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678,issued Dec. 30, 1975 to Laughlin, et al. at Column 23, line 58 throughColumn 29, line 23 (herein incorporated by reference).

Preferred anionic surfactants for use in the compositions herein are thealkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl alkoxylated sulfates,paraffin sulfonates and mixtures thereof.

Suitable amphoteric surfactants to be used herein include betaine andsulphobetaine surfactants, derivatives thereof or mixtures thereof. Saidbetaine or sulphobetaine surfactants are preferred herein as, they helpdisinfection by increasing the permeability of the bacterial cell wall,thus allowing other active ingredients to enter the cell.

Furthermore, due to the mild action profile of said betaine orsulphobetaine surfactants, they are particularly suitable for thecleaning of delicate surfaces, e.g. delicate laundry or surfaces incontact with food and/or babies. Betaine and sulphobetaine surfactantsare also extremely mild to the skin and/or surfaces to be treated.

Suitable betaine and sulphobetaine surfactants to be used herein are thebetaine/sulphobetaine and betaine-like detergents wherein the moleculecontains both basic and acidic groups which form an inner salt givingthe molecule both cationic and anionic hydrophilic groups over a broadrange of pH values. Some common examples of these detergents aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,082,275, 2,702,279 and 2,255,082,incorporated herein by reference. Preferred betaine and sulphobetainesurfactants herein are according to the formula ##STR1## wherein R1 isan alkyl radical containing from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, preferably from 8to 18, and more preferably from 12 to 14, wherein R2 and R3 contain from1 to 3 carbon atoms, and preferably 1 carbon atom, wherein n is aninteger from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 6 and more preferably is 1, Yis selected from the group consisting of carboxyl and sulfonyl radicalsand wherein the sum of R1, R2 and R3 radicals is from 14 to 24 carbonatoms, or mixtures thereof.

Examples of particularly suitable betaine surfactants include C12-C18alkyl dimethyl betaine such as coconut-betaine and C10-C16 alkyldimethyl betaine such as laurylbetaine. Coconutbetaine is commerciallyavailable from Seppic under the trade name of Amonyl 265®. Laurylbetaineis commercially available from Albright & Wilson under the trade nameEmpigen BB/L®.

Other suitable amphoteric surfactants to be used herein include amineoxides having the following formula R₁ R₂ R₃ NO wherein each of R1, R2and R3 is independently a saturated substituted or unsubstituted, linearor branched alkyl group of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably of from6 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably of from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, andmost preferably of from 8 to 18 carbon atoms. Preferred amine oxides foruse herein are for instance natural blend C8-C10 amine oxides as well asC12-C16 amine oxides commercially available from Hoechst. Suitable shortchain amine oxides to be used according to the present invention areamine oxides having the following formula R₁ R₂ R₃ NO wherein R1 is a C6to C10 alkyl group, preferably a C8 to C10 alkyl group and wherein R2and R3 are independently substituted or unsubstituted, linear orbranched alkyl groups of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, preferably of from 1to 3 carbon atoms, and more preferably are ethyl groups. R1 may be asaturated linear or branched alkyl group. referred short chain amineoxides for use herein are for instance natural lend C8-C10 amine oxidesavailable from Hoechst.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surfactant is asurfactant system comprising an amine oxide and a betaine orsulphobetaine surfactant, preferably in a weight ratio of amine oxide tobetaine or sulphobetaine of 2:1 to 100:1, more preferably of 6:1 to100:1. Using such a surfactant system together with a chelating agentand an antimicrobial essential oil or active thereof, in a composition,provides not only effective disinfecting properties and effectivecleaning performance to said composition but also provides the cleanedsurfaces with a shiny effect, i.e., the amount of filming/streaking lefton the cleaned surface that has been treated with said composition isminimal.

Suitable nonionic surfactants to be used herein are fatty alcoholethoxylates and/or propoxylates which are commercially available with avariety of fatty alcohol chain lengths and a variety of ethoxylationdegrees. Indeed, the HLB values of such alkoxylated nonionic surfactantsdepend essentially on the chain length of the fatty alcohol, the natureof the alkoxylation and the degree of alkoxylation. Surfactantcatalogues are available which list a number of surfactants, includingnonionics, together with their respective HLB values.

Suitable chemical processes for preparing the nonionic surfactants foruse herein include condensation of corresponding alcohols with alkyleneoxide, in the desired proportions. Such processes are well known to theman skilled in the art and have been extensively described in the art.As an alternative, a great variety of alkoxylated alcohols suitable foruse herein is commercially available from various suppliers.

Particularly suitable to be used herein as nonionic surfactants arehydrophobic nonionic surfactants having an HLB (hydrophilic-lipophilicbalance) below 16, preferably below 15, more preferably below 12, andmost preferably below 10. Those hydrophobic nonionic surfactants havebeen found to provide good grease cutting properties.

Preferred hydrophobic nonionic surfactants to be used in thecompositions according to the present invention are surfactants havingan HLB below 16 and being according to the formula RO--(C₂ H₄ O)_(n) (C₃H₆ O)_(m) H, wherein R is a C₆ to C₂₂ alkyl chain or a C₆ to C₂₈ alkylbenzene chain, and wherein n+m is from 0 to 20 and n is from 0 to 15 andm is from 0 to 20, preferably n+m is from 1 to 15 and, n and m are from0.5 to 15, more preferably n+m is from 1 to 10 and, n and m are from 0to 10. The preferred R chains for use herein are the C₈ to C₂₂ alkylchains. Accordingly, suitable hydrophobic nonionic surfactants for useherein are Dobanol^(R) 91-2.5 (HLB=8.1; R is a mixture of C9 and C₁₁alkyl chains, n is 2.5 and m is 0), or Lutensol^(R) TO3 (HLB=8; R is aC₁₃ alkyl chains, n is 3 and m is 0), or Lutensol^(R) AO3 (HLB=8; R is amixture of C₁₃ and C₁₅ alkyl chains, n is 3 and m is 0), or Tergitol^(R)25L3 (HLB=7.7; R is in the range of C₁₂ to C₁₅ alkyl chain length, n is3 and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R) 23-3 (HLB=8.1; R is a mixture Of C₁₂ andC₁₃ alkyl chains, n is 3 and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R) 23-2 (HLB=6.2; R isa mixture of C₁₂ and C₁₃ alkyl chains, n is 2 and m is 0), orDobanol^(R) 45-7 (HLB=11.6; R is a mixture of C₁₄ and C₁₅ alkyl chains,n is 7 and m is 0) Dobanol^(R) 23-6.5 (HLB=11.9; R is a mixture of C₁₂and C₁₃ alkyl chains, n is 6.5 and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R) 25-7 (HLB=12;R is a mixture Of C₁₂ and C₁₅ alkyl chains, n is 7 and m is 0), orDobanol^(R) 91-5 (HLB=11.6; R is a mixture of C₉ and C₁₁ alkyl chains, nis 5 and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R) 91-6 (HLB=12.5 ; R is a mixture of C₉and C₁₁ alkyl chains, n is 6 and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R) 91-8 (HLB=13.7;R is a mixture of C₉ and C₁₁ alkyl chains, n is 8 and m is 0),Dobanol^(R) 91-10 (HLB=14.2; R is a mixture of C₉ to C₁₁ alkyl chains, nis 10 and m is 0), or mixtures thereof. Preferred herein are Dobanol^(R)91-2.5, or Lutensol^(R) TO3, or Lutensol^(R) AO3, or Tergitol^(R) 25L3,or Dobanol^(R) 23-3, or Dobanol^(R) 23-2, or mixtures thereof. TheseDobanol^(R) surfactants are commercially available from SHELL. TheseLutensol^(R) surfactants are commercially available from BASF and theseTergitol^(R) surfactants are commercially available from UNION CARBIDE.

Suitable zwitterionic surfactants contain both cationic and anionichydrophilic groups on the same molecule at a relatively wide range ofpH's. The typical cationic group is a quaternary ammonium group,although other positively charged groups like phosphonium, imidazoliumand sulfonium groups can be used. The typical anionic hydrophilic groupsare carboxylates and sulfonates, although other groups like sulfates,phosphonates, and the like can be used. A generic formula for somepreferred zwitterionic surfactants is

    R.sub.1 --N.sup.+ (R.sub.2)(R.sub.3)R.sub.4 X.sup.-

wherein R₁ is a hydrophobic group; R₂ and R₃ are each C₁ -C₄ alkyl,hydroxy alkyl or other substituted alkyl group which can also be joinedto form ring structures with the N; R₄ is a moiety joining the cationicnitrogen atom to the hydrophilic group and is typically an alkylene,hydroxy alkylene, or polyalkoxy group containing from 1 to 4 carbonatoms; and X is the hydrophilic group which is preferably a carboxylateor sulfonate group. Preferred hydrophobic groups R₁ are alkyl groupscontaining from 8 to 22, preferably less than 18, more preferably lessthan 16 carbon atoms. The hydrophobic group can contain unsaturationand/or substituents and/or linking groups such as aryl groups, amidogroups, ester groups and the like. In general, the simple alkyl groupsare preferred for cost and stability reasons.

Other specific zwitterionic surfactants have the generic formulae:

    R.sub.1 --C(O)--N(R.sub.2)--(C(R.sub.3).sub.2).sub.n --N(R.sub.2).sub.2 (.sup.+)--(C(R.sub.3).sub.2).sub.n --SO.sub.3 (.sup.-)

    or

    R.sub.1 --C(O)--N(R.sub.2)--(C(R.sub.3).sub.2).sub.n --N(R.sub.2).sub.2 (.sup.+)--(C(R.sub.3).sub.2).sub.n --COO(.sup.-)

wherein each R₁ is a hydrocarbon, e.g. an alkyl group containing from 8up to 20, preferably up to 18, more preferably up to 16 carbon atoms,each R₂ is either a hydrogen (when attached to the amido nitrogen),short chain alkyl or substituted alkyl containing from one to 4 carbonatoms, preferably groups selected from the group consisting of methyl,ethyl, propyl, hydroxy substituted ethyl or propyl and mixtures thereof,preferably methyl, each R₃ is selected from the group consisting ofhydrogen and hydroxy groups and each n is a number from 1 to 4,preferably from 2 to 3, more preferably 3, with no more than one hydroxygroup in any (C(R₃)₂) moiety. The R₁ groups can be branched and/orunsaturated. The R₂ groups can also be connected to form ringstructures. A surfactant of this type is a C₁₀ -C₁₄ fattyacylamidopropylene(hydroxypropylene)sulfobetaine that is available fromthe Sherex Company under the trade name "Varion CAS sulfobetaine"®.

Typically, the surfactant or mixtures thereof is present in thecomposition at a level of from 0.01% to 50% by weight of the totalcomposition, preferably from 0.01% to 30% and more preferably from 0.1%to 10%.

A third essential ingredient of the present invention is anantimicrobial essential oil or an active thereof, or a mixture thereof.

Suitable antimicrobial essential oils to be used herein are thoseessential oils which exhibit antimicrobial activity. By "actives ofessential oils" it is meant herein any ingredient of essential oils thatexhibit antimicrobial activity. It is speculated that said antimicrobialessential oils and actives thereof act as proteins denaturing agents.Also, said antimicrobial oils and actives thereof are compounds whichcontribute to the safety profile of a composition comprising them whenit is used to disinfect any surface. A further advantage of saidantimicrobial oils and actives thereof is that they impart pleasant odorto a composition comprising them without the need of adding a perfume.Indeed combining said antimicrobial essential oil or an active thereofwith a surfactant and a chelant, in a composition, allows to deliver notonly excellent disinfecting properties on surfaces to be treated withsaid composition but also good scent while being safe to the surfaces.

Such essential oils include, but are not limited to, those obtained fromthyme, lemongrass, citrus, lemons, oranges, anise, clove, aniseed, pine,cinnamon, geranium, roses, mint, lavender, citronella, eucalyptus,peppermint, camphor, sandalwood, rosmarin, vervain, fleagrass,lemongrass, ratanhiae, cedar and mixtures thereof. Preferredantimicrobial essential oils to be used herein are thyme oil, clove oil,cinnamon oil, geranium oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, mint oil ormixtures thereof.

Actives of essential oils to be used herein include, but are not limitedto, thymol (present for example in thyme), eugenol (present for examplein cinnamon and clove), menthol (present for example in mint), geraniol(present for example in geranium and rose), verbenone (present forexample in vervain), eucalyptol and pinocarvone (present in eucalyptus),cedrol (present for example in cedar), anethol (present for example inanise), carvacrol, hinokitiol, berberine, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid,methyl salycilic acid, methyl salycilate, terpineol and mixturesthereof. Preferred actives of essential oils to be used herein arethymol, eugenol, verbenone, eucalyptol, terpineol, cinnamic acid, methylsalycilic acid and/or geraniol.

Thymol may be commercially available for example from Aldrich, eugenolmay be commercially available for example from Sigma,Systems--Bioindustries (SBI)--Manheimer Inc.

Typically, the antimicrobial essential oil or actives thereof or mixturethereof is present in the composition at a level of at least 0.003% byweight of the total composition, preferably from 0.006% to 10%, morepreferably from 0.1% to 4% and most preferably of from 0.03% to 2%.

It has now been found that by combining a surfactant, a chelating agentand an antimicrobial essential oil or active thereof, in a composition,that improved disinfecting properties are delivered, even when usedunder highly diluted conditions. By "improved disinfecting properties"it is meant herein that the disinfection delivered by combining asurfactant, a chelating agent and an antimicrobial essential oil and/oran active thereof, in a composition, is improved as compared to thedisinfection delivered by using only one or two of said ingredients, insaid composition.

Excellent disinfection is obtained by combining a surfactant, achelating agent and an antimicrobial essential oil or active thereofaccording to the present invention on a variety of microorganismsincluding Gram positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, and Gramnegative bacteria like Pseudomonas aeroginosa as well as on fungi likeCandida albicans present on surfaces, even if used in highly dilutedconditions.

Disinfection properties of a composition may be measured by thebactericidal activity of said composition. A test method suitable toevaluate the bactericidal activity of a composition is described inEuropean Standard, prEN 1040, CEN/TC216 N 78, dated November 1995 issuedby the European committee for standardisation, Brussels. EuropeanStandard, prEN 1040, CEN/TC216 N 78, specifies a test method andrequirements for the minimum bactericidal activity of a disinfectingcomposition. The test is passed if the bacterical colonies forming units(cfu) are reduced from a 10⁷ cfu (initial level) to a 10² cfu (finallevel after contact with the disinfecting product), i.e. a 10⁵ reductionof the viability is necessary. A composition comprising a surfactant, achelating agent and an antimicrobial essential oil or an active thereofpasses this test, even if used in highly diluted conditions.

The combination of ingredients according to the present invention may beformulated in a composition being either in a solid, pasty or liquidform. In the case where the compositions according to the presentinvention are formulated as solids, they will be mixed with anappropriate solvent, typically water, before use. In liquid form, thecompositions are preferably but not necessarily formulated as aqueouscompositions. Liquid compositions are preferred herein for convenienceof use.

In the embodiment, where the compositions according to the presentinvention are aqueous liquid cleaning compositions, they preferably havea pH as is of not more than 12.0, more preferably from 1 to 10, and mostpreferably from 2 to 9. The pH of the compositions can be adjusted byusing organic or inorganic acids, or alkalinising agents.

As effective disinfection is provided with the combination ofingredients of the present invention the compositions comprising saidcombination do not require the addition of other antimicrobialcompounds. However, if desired in one embodiment of the presentinvention said compositions may further comprise, as optionalingredients, other antimicrobial compounds like a peroxygen bleach, ormixtures thereof. Preferred peroxygen bleach is hydrogen peroxide, or awater soluble source thereof, or mixtures thereof.

It is believed that the presence of peroxygen bleach especially hydrogenperoxide, persulfate and the like, further contributes to thedisinfecting properties of the compositions according to the presentinvention. Indeed, peroxygen bleach may attack the vital function of themicro-organism cells, for example it may inhibit the assembling ofribosomes units within the cytoplasm of the micro-organism cells. Alsoperoxygen bleach like hydrogen peroxide, is a strong oxidizer thatgenerates hydroxyl free radicals which attack proteins and nucleicacids. Furthermore, the presence of peroxygen bleach, especiallyhydrogen peroxide, provides strong stain removal benefits which areparticularly noticeable for example in laundry and hard surfacesapplications.

As used herein a hydrogen peroxide source refers to any compound whichproduces hydrogen peroxide when said compound is in contact with water.Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use hereininclude percarbonates, persilicate, persulphate such as monopersulfate,perborates and peroxyacids such as diperoxydodecandioic acid (DPDA),magnesium perphthalic acid and mixtures thereof.

In addition, other classes of peroxides can be used as an alternative tohydrogen peroxide and sources thereof or in combination with hydrogenperoxide and sources thereof. Suitable classes include dialkylperoxides,diacylperoxides, preformed percarboxylic acids, organic and inorganicperoxides and/or hydroperoxides.

The compositions herein may comprise up to 15% by weight of the totalcomposition of a peroxygen bleach or a mixture thereof, preferably from0.5% to 10%, and more preferably from 1% to 8%.

The compositions according to the present invention may comprise otherantimicrobial ingredients that further contribute to the antimicrobialactivity of the compositions according to the present invention. Suchantimicrobial ingredients include parabens like ethyl paraben, propylparaben, methyl paraben, glutaraldehyde or mixtures thereof.

The compositions herein may further comprise a variety of other optionalingredients such as solvents, builders, stabilisers, bleach activators,soil suspenders, dye transfer agents, brighteners, perfumes, antidusting agents, enzymes, dispersant, dye transfer inhibitors, pigments,perfumes, radical scavengers and dyes.

The compositions herein may be packaged in a variety of suitabledetergent packaging known to those skilled in the art. The liquidcompositions herein may desirably be packaged in manually operated spraydispensing containers, which are usually made of synthetic organicpolymeric plastic materials. Indeed, said spray-type dispensers allow touniformly apply to a relatively large area of a surface to bedisinfected the liquid disinfecting compositions suitable to be usedaccording to the present invention, thereby contributing to disinfectionproperties of said compositions. Such spray-type dispensers areparticularly suitable to disinfect vertical surfaces.

Suitable spray-type dispensers to be used according to the presentinvention include manually operated foam trigger-type dispensers soldfor example by Specialty Packaging Products, Inc. or ContinentalSprayers, Inc. These types of dispensers are disclosed, for instance, inU.S. Pat. No. 4,701,311 to Dunnining et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 646,973and U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,745 both to Focarracci. Particularly preferredto be used herein are spray-type dispensers such as T 8500® commerciallyavailable from Continental Spray International or T 8100® commerciallyavailable from Canyon, Northern Ireland. In such a dispenser the liquidcomposition is divided in fine liquid droplets resulting in a spray thatis directed onto the surface to be treated. Indeed, in such a spray-typedispenser the composition contained in the body of said dispenser isdirected through the spray-type dispenser head via energy communicatedto a pumping mechanism by the user as said user activates said pumpingmechanism. More particularly, in said spray-type dispenser head thecomposition is forced against an obstacle, e.g. a grid or a cone or thelike, thereby providing shocks to help atomise the liquid composition,i.e. to help the formation of liquid droplets.

The compositions of the present invention may also be executed in theform of wipes. By "wipes" it is meant herein disposable towels, e.g.,paper towels where a composition according to the present invention isincorporated. In a preferred execution said wipes incorporate a liquidcomposition. Preferably said wipes are packaged in a plastic box. Theadvantage of this execution is a faster usage of a disinfectingcomposition by the user, this even outside the house, i.e. there is noneed to pour the liquid compositions according to the present inventionon the surfaces to be treated/disinfect and to dry it out with a cloth.In other words, wipes allow disinfection of surfaces in one step.

The compositions according to the present invention may be applied ontoany surfaces for disinfection purpose. By "surface" it is meant hereinany surface including hard-surfaces like bathroom, kitchen, table tops,refrigerators, and the like as well as fabrics, clothes, carpets and thelike. Said compositions according to the present invention may beapplied to the surface to be disinfected in its neat form or in itsdiluted form.

By "diluted form" it is meant herein that the compositions to be usedbeing either in a liquid or solid form may be diluted by the usertypically up to 100 times their weight of water, preferably into 80 to30 times their weight of water, and more preferably 60 to 40 times.

The present invention will be further illustrated by the followingexamples.

EXAMPLES

The following compositions were made by mixing the listed ingredients inthe listed proportions (weight % unless otherwise specified).

    ______________________________________                                        Compositions                                                                    % by weight I II III IV V VI                                                ______________________________________                                          Hydrogen peroxide 7.0 --  -- 2   4   --                                       Thyme oil -- 0.4 -- -- 0.5 --                                                 Clove oil 0.5 -- -- 0.2 -- 0.1                                                Geranium oil -- 0.2 -- -- -- --                                               Eucalyptus oil 0.2 -- 0.2 0.2 -- 0.2                                          geraniol -- -- 0.5 -- 0.5 0.1                                                 Alkyl sulphate 4   3   10   1   4   0.5                                       DETPMP 0.1  0.15  0.15 0.1  0.15 0.2                                        Water and minors                                                                          up to 100%                                                          H2SO4 up to pH 4                                                            ______________________________________                                          Compositions                                                                % by weight VII    VIII    IX    X    XI    XII                               ______________________________________                                          Hydrogen peroxide 7.0 -- -- 2   4   --                                        Thyme oil -- 0.4 -- -- 0.5 --                                                 Clove oil 0.5 -- -- 0.2 -- 0.1                                                Geranium oil -- 0.2 -- -- -- --                                               Eucalyptus oil 0.2 -- 0.2 0.2 -- 0.2                                          geraniol -- -- 0.5 -- 0.5 0.1                                                 Betaine 1.5  0.05 --  0.05 --  0.05                                           Amine oxide 3   0.9 -- 1   -- 0.9                                             Alkyl sulphate -- -- 1.5 -- 4   --                                            DTPA 0.1 --  0.15 0.1  0.15 --                                                DETPMP --  0.15 -- -- -- 0.2                                                Water and minors                                                                          up to 100%                                                          H2SO4 up to pH 4                                                            ______________________________________                                         DETPMP is diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonate                     DTPA is diethylene triamine pentacetate                                       Alkyl sulfate is a C10 alkyl sulphate                                         Betaine is coco alkyldimethyl betaine available from Albright & Witson        under the trade name of Empigen BB/L ®.                                   Amine oxide is Ndecyldimethyl amine oxide                                

The compositions of the examples above are according to the presentinvention, they may be used neat or diluted, e.g., composition I and VIImay be used at a dilution level of 1:50 and composition III at adilution level of 1:25, to provide effective disinfecting performance onthe surface treated. Indeed, these compositions pass the prEN 1040 testof the European committee of standardisation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disinfecting composition comprising:(a) fromabout 0.001% to about 5% by weight of a chelating agent; (b) from about0.01% to about 50% by weight of a surfactant of the formula: ##STR2##wherein R1 is an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 24 carbon atoms; R2and R3 are independently an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 3 carbonatoms; n is an integer from 1 to 10; Y is selected from the groupconsisting of carboxyl and sulfonyl radicals; and wherein the sum of R1,R2 and R3 radicals is from 14 to 24 carbon atoms; (c) from about 0.003%to about 10% by weight of an antimicrobial essential oil; and (d) fromabout 0.5% to about 15% by weight of a peroxygen bleach.
 2. Adisinfecting composition according to claim 1 wherein said antimicrobialessential oil is selected from the group consisting of thyme oil,lemongrass oil, citrus oil, lemon oil, orange oil, anise oil, clove oil,aniseed oil, cinnamon oil, geranium oil, rose oil, lavender oil,citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, mint oil, camphor oil,sandalwood oil, cedar oil, rosmarin oil, pine oil, vervain oil,fleagrass oil, ratanhiae oil, and mixtures thereof.
 3. A disinfectingcomposition according to claim 1 wherein said chelating agent isselected from the group consisting of phosphonate chelating agents,amino carboxylate chelating agents, carboxylate chelating agents,polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents and mixturesthereof.
 4. A disinfecting composition according to claim 3 wherein saidchelating agent is selected from the group consisting of etidronic acid,an alkali metal salt of ethane 1-hydroxy diphosphonate, nitrilotrimethylene phosphonate, ethylene diamine tetra methylene phosphonate,diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonate,dihydroxydisulfobenzene, ethylenediamine N,N'-disuccinic acid, ethylenediamine tetra acetate, ethylene diamine penta acetate,N-hydroxyethylenediaminetriacetate, nitrilotri-acetate, ethylenediaminetetrapropionate, triethylenetetraaminehexa-acetate, ethanoldiglycine,propylene diamine tetracetic acid, methyl glycine di-acetic acid,malonic acid, salicyic acid, glycine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid,dipicolonic acid, and mixtures thereof.
 5. A disinfecting compositionaccording to claim 1 wherein said peroxygen bleach is selected from thegroup consisting of hydrogen peroxide, source of hydrogen peroxide,dialkylperoxide, diacylperoxides, and mixtures thereof.
 6. Adisinfecting composition according to claim 5 wherein said source ofhydrogen peroxide is selected from the group consisting of perborates,percarbonates, persulfates, monopersulfates, peroxyacids, magnesiumperpthalic acid and mixtures thereof.
 7. A disinfecting compositionaccording to claim 1 wherein R1 is an alkyl radical containing from 8 to18 carbon atoms and n is an integer from 1 to
 6. 8. A disinfectingcomposition according to claim 1 wherein said composition furthercomprises:(e) an optional ingredient selected from the group consistingof dye transfer agents, anti-dusting agents, radical scavengers andmixtures thereof.
 9. A disinfecting composition according to claim 2wherein said antimicrobial essential oil is selected from the groupconsisting of orange oil, cinnamon oil, rose oil, lavender oil,peppermint oil, mint oil, camphor oil, sandalwood oil, cedar oil,rosmarin oil, vervain oil, fleagrass oil, ratanhiae oil, and mixturesthereof.
 10. A disinfecting composition according to claim 1 whereincomposition further comprises:(f) another antimicrobial ingredientselected from the group consisting of glutaraldehyde, ethyl paraben,propyl paraben, methyl paraben and mixtures thereof.
 11. A disinfectingcomposition according to claim 1 wherein said disinfecting compositionis an aqueous composition with a pH of less than 12.0.
 12. A method ofusing the disinfecting composition according to claim 1, comprising thestep of diluting the disinfecting composition with water.
 13. A methodof using the disinfecting composition according to claim 1, comprisingthe step of applying said disinfecting composition directly to a spongeor a washcloth.
 14. A method of disinfecting a surface comprisingapplying the disinfecting composition according to claim 1, to a surfacein need of disinfection.
 15. A method of disinfecting a surfaceaccording to claim 14 wherein said disinfecting composition is appliedneat or in diluted form.